Family emergency prompts recess in brisk-moving Issiah Ross trial
The trial of Issiah Ross is in recess until next week, because of a family emergency, but Judge Stephanie Reese said on Friday the trial is "in great shape."
"This is not unexpected," Reese said. "We were planning on having to go into next week, no matter what. This is me just going to push it off one more day. Evidence is coming in very well and timely. I don't anticipate right now that this is going to cause any undue delay in the proceedings."
Nearly four years later, the details of the shooting deaths of Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, are coming to light as the trial began with an emotional start from the teens' parents.
ALSO SEE | Key developments in the trial live blog
"She came behind us, gave us both a hug, and told us she loved us and she was going to take a shower," Elizabeth Cannada said of Lyric. "And I told her, don't take an hour and a half, because she always took really long showers. And that was the last time I saw her."
Lyric and Devin had plans to meet up Friday night on Sept. 16, 2022. Their bodies were found in a wooded area within a day after they were reported missing by their families.
"I collapsed and probably screamed a scream I never want to hear again," Cannada said tearfully at the stand.
Ross was 17 years old at the time, but is being tried as an adult. He has pleaded not guilty and has rejected the state's plea deal and declined to make a counteroffer.
His attorney says Ross acted in self-defense. It is now up to 12 jurors to ultimately decide a verdict.
Both attorneys say a 9mm owned by Devin's father, Dexter Clark, was used in the killings.
Dexter Clark testified on Wednesday about how he reported the firearm missing after realizing he hadn't seen the gun in one or two weeks. Orange County investigators also reported "23 rounds were missing."
"I checked, and it wasn't there, so I reported it," Clark said.
"What kind of gun was that?" asked Anna Orr, Orange County Assistant District Attorney.
"A 9mm Canik," Clark said.
Both teens were found with "multiple gunshot wounds," according to the autopsy reports.
"The most serious was the wound which entered her left back and exited from her right abdomen, going through her left lung, her aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart, and her liver," medical examiner Dr. Lauren Scott said.
For Devin, the most serious injuries were to the back and neck.
"Consequences would be bleeding or exsanguination from those two major vessels," Dr. Scott said.
The trial also included witnesses from Ross' mother's ex-boyfriend, Antwan Bryant, who is related to Devin.
